Container and packing for fragile articles



July 10, 1962 J. N. WARWICK 3,043,488

CONTAINER AND PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed March 17, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: JOHN N. WARWICK BY W 1 AGENT July 10, 1962 .1. N. WARWICK 3,043,438

CONTAINER AND PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed March 17, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /A/V/V7OR= JOHN N. WARWICK AGENT July 10, 1962 J. N. WARWICK 3,043,488

CONTAINER AND PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed March 17, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 119 117 120 81 p78! 77 I 76 77 m ggi ao 81 l 79 l \l 79 I 7 I FIG. 5

l I I I i l I l i i i 1 M H W M 71w- N n 7 I I i l l Pm I Fla. 9

IN VENTOR JOHN N. WAR W/CK WWW AGENT FIG.

July 10, 1962 J. N. WARWICK 3,043,488

CONTAINER AND PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed March 17, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ml VENI'OR JOHN M WARW/K BY Mum-M 343A88 Patented July 10, Iss2 3,043,488 coNrArNER AND rAcKmG Fon FRAGILE ARTICLES John N. Warwick, Caseyville, ilk, assignor to Crown The invention relates to a container and interior protective immobilizing pads constructed of corrugated fibreboard or other suitable flexible material for packaging fragile articles for storage and shipment.

More particularly the container and interior packing is adapted to the packaging of one or more articles of the nature of automobile Windshields having compound curved surfaces and being of such a large size that ordinary cushioning materials may not be used effectively or economically. It has been the experience in packaging articles of this type that they must be spaced inwardly from the outer walls of the container to avoid direct shock and that the means for positioning the article in spaced, fixed relation within the container must necessarily be of a nature that will transmit the shock to the article in a planar relation to the article. This characteristic of the packaging means is essential to avoid damage resulting from a whip-lash type of movement to which articles of this nature are so prone because of their weight and proportions.

Heretofore, packaging that would accomplish these results has been of a complexity that could not afford an economy of packaging materials or labor in the packaging operation; or, in the alternative, the arrangement of spacing elements were such that the container and spacing elements were subject to distortion whereby the critical spacing was adversely affected and the windshield thus allowed to shift within the container.

In order to avoid the previous difiiculties the present invention provides a conventional slotted carton type of container which utilizes available container portion to determine and maintain the position of the interior packing materials in position in the container. In addition, there is provided interior packaging comprising paired logs having article receiving openings therein adapted to firmly engage marginal portions of the article and retain the same against sliding movement or excess vibration. The logs are of a basically one piece construction and include therein openings adapted to receive the container portions for securing or maintaining the logs in position and further having integral flap portions disposed in planar relation to the packaged article and retained within article receiving openings in the logs to efiectively eliminate movement thereof in response to shocks normally encountered in shipment and handling of such containers.

It is additionally provided that the article restraining logs extend the fullwidth of the container and thereby positively eliminating lateral movement thereof within the container. This affords the additional advantage that the logs due to their length and inherent structural rigidity reinforce the top and bottom closures of the container to effectively minimize bulging or sagging thereof and thereby maintain a fixed spaced relation between the pairs of top and bottom logs to effectively restrain the packaged articles under all reasonable stresses incident to shipment and handling.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a container and packing for fragile articles of the nature of auto Windshields whereby the article is retained in spaced relation to the container outer walls.

A further object is to provide a container with paired interior article retaining members fixedly positioned so that critical spacing is maintained during shipment to insure continued firm engagement of the article in the container.

An additional object is to provide interior packing elements in a container for auto Windshields and the like, the packing having openings therein adapted to receive and engage container portions and other openings adapted to receive edge portions of the article packaged to retain said container portions and article edge portions in fixed spaced relation.

Still another object is to provide in a container for fragile articles interior members having transverse article receiving openings or channels and integral liners infolded in said channels and in flatwise surface relation to the article.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention in its various embodiments will be obvious upon a full understanding of the invention as described and set forth in the following description.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a container with an auto windshield engaged and restrained by top and bottom paired logs in spaced fixed relationship within an outer shipping container.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single unit container partially assembled and cut away to show the top and bottom logs in determined position in the container with the windshield restrained in slots provided therein. I

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a pad adapted to engage the upper edge of a single windshield within the container.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the top log shown in blank form in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a pad adapted to engage the lower edge of a single windshield within the container.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom log formed from the blank in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a container cut away to show interior packing adapted to accommodate multiple window units.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a multiple unit top pad.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a multiple unit bottom pad.

FIG. 10 is an exploded View of a top log with spacer pads folded in various manners to accommodate glass of different dimensions.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a spacer pad adapted to be positioned in the article receiving openings in the top logs to adjust the effective depth to accommodate individual various sized Windshields.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a bottom log during a stage of assembly prior to the insertion of the article receiving opening liner and a separate supplementary liner insert.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a supplementary insert with adhesive means attached.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a bottom log completely assembled and ready to receive a windshield within a container.

In FIG. 1 is illustrated an exploded view of a single unit container 20 illustrating the arrangement and disposition of the parts in a slotted carton type of outer shipping container. It will be noted that the paired top 21 and bottom logs 22 are arranged to effectively engage opposing marginal edge portions of the windshield 23 and thus maintain the glass in vertical relation spaced from the top, bottom and side walls of the container. The glass is also restricted from longitudinal sliding motion within the article receiving openings 24 and 25 of the logs by means which will be hereinafter described in greater detail. It is to be noted that the container end flaps 26 have an inner end portion folded in normal relation and thus providing a securing flap 27 to position the logs in longitudinal spaced relation in the shipping container.

osages In FIG. 2 is shown a container in a stage of assembly just prior to final closure of the outer side flaps 28. The container is partially cut away to show that the end flaps 26 are interiorly disposed of the outer side flaps 28 and that the securing flaps 27 are inserted within the respective logs- 21 and 22 to afford positive positioning and restraining means against movement thereof. The extremely curved end portions of the Windshield 29 are suspended completely free within the container so that no shocks may be transmitted directly thereto.

Dealing with the container paits more particularly, We see in FIG. 3 the pad for forming the top log 21 for a single unit package adapted to pack a single windshield. The pad is rectangular in form and of a width to extend between the opposed side walls of the container. t is provided with a central panel 31 and transversely scored end portions adapted to form progressively outwardly from the central panel 31, side panels 32, top panels '33, interior panels 34, reinforcing panels 35 and bracing panels 36. An article receiving opening 24 is positioned in the central panel and adjacent side panel portions. Further cooperating openings 37 are provided in the reinforcing panels 35 and adjacent portions of the interior panels 34- and diagonal bracing panels 36. The central panel 31 is provided with an integral liner 38 for the article receiving opening. The liner is separated from the central panel and the side panels by slit edges 46 shown by solid line in the drawing. The liner comprises an extension panel ltl and, foldably connected thereto along a score line 4 1, paired facing panels 4243 separated by a terminal fold line 44. The facing panels are provided with locking extensions 45 disposed ,outwardly of the central panel, each having a locking edge 47 defined by a slit.

The top log 21 is shown in assembled condition in FIG. 4 whereby it may be noted that the connected together panels 32-456 extending outwardly from the central panel are folded successively to form counterpart tubular portions having an opening 48 therebetween opposite to the central panel. This opening 48 is determined by the interior panels 34 and is adapted to receive the securing flap 27 of the outer shipping container. The article receiving opening 24 and cooperative openings 37' are in aligned relation providing a channel extending transversely of the log adapted to receive a marginal edge portion of the windshield. The liner 3% for the article receiving opening is folded about the score line 39 with the extension panel 4% in flatwise relation to adjacent central panel portion and the facing panels 42-43 inserted in the article receiving openings with the locking extensions 45 disposed outwardly of the side panels 32, effectively locking the face panels 4243 against lateral movement Within the article receiving opening.

The pad 50' for forming the bottom log 22 is illustrated in FIG. and is basically similar to the top log pad being transversely scored to define a central panel 52, flanked by side panels .53, bottom panels 54, interior panels 55, reinforcing panels 56, and diagonal bracing panels 57 in succession. It is further provided with an article receiving opening 58 and cooperating openings 59 and an integral liner 60 for the article receiving opening.

To accommodate the curvature of the Windshields, the article receiving opening 50- may in many instances be disposed in angular relation to the side margins of the central panel 52 to approximate the contour of the windshield margin. Thus it may be provided that the line of fold 61 of the integral liner 60 will be in normal relation to the sides of the central panel 52 and spaced from the opening 58 by a central panel portion 62. An extension panel 63 of the liner 60 is so formed that it will be coextensive to the before-mentioned central panel portion 62 with the fold connection 64 to the facing panels 65-66 angularly disposed to the central panel sides and the terminal fold '67 seaparating the facing A panels in parallel relation to the fold connection 64. By so forming the integral liner 6% the facing panels -66 will fall into aligned relation with the article receiving opening 58, as shown in FIG. 6, with the locking extensions extending outwardly and the locking edges in abutment to the side panels 54 as shown in FIG. 6.

The bottom log shown in FIG. 6 is formed from the pad St) in the same manner as before described in conjunction with the top log 21 of FIG. 4. The method of in sertion of the liner 60 in the article receiving opening 53 and the means for securing the liner to the Windshield will be described hereinafter in conjunction With the multi pack bottom log.

A container adapted to package one or more Windshields is illustrated in FIG. 7. Here the container is cut away to show the cooperative disposition of the pairs of top and bottom positioning logs 71-72. Article receiving openings '73 in the top log and 74 in the bottom log are provided to engage and retain opposed marginal edges of the windshield to retain the windshield in spaced relation Within the container as before described in relation to the single pack container of FIGS. 1 and 2. It is apparent that the article receiving openings must be disposed at the proper angular relation to the side panels of the logs to conform to the lateral and vertical contours of the windshield and further that the spaced relation between each pair of co-- operating openings in the top and bottom logs are critical in that the windshield must be firmly engaged in said openings to prevent longitudinal or sliding movement of the windshield. The means for critically adjusting the spacial relation between the termini of cooperating top and bottom slots are essential to the proper functioning of the container and packing elements therein.

The pad 75 for forming the top log 71 of the multi pack container is shown in FIG. 8. This is similar to the single unit top pads having a central panel 76, side panels 77, top panels 78, interior panels 79, reinforcing panels and bracing panels 81 in foldably connected relation. A multiplicity of article receiving openings 73 are provided in the central panel and adjacent portions of the side panels. It is to be noted that the end portions 82 of these openings, located in the side panels 77, are restricted in width providing a tapered effect towards the ends. The cooperating openings 83 in the reinforcing panels 80 are formed to correspond to the contours of the article receiving openings 73 to provide a clear channel in the erected log to accommodate the curved Windshield. The width of the cooperating openings is the same as that of the central .panel portion of the article receiving openings to permit insertion of a spacer pad, hereinafter described, which will then be restrained by the margins of the tapered end portions 82 of the article receiving opening 73.

The pad 85 for forming the multi pack bottom log 72 shown in FIG. 9 corresponds to the top pad log in that it also is comprised of a central panel 86, side panelsd'i, top panels 88, interior panels 89, reinforcing panels and bracing panels 91. However, it may be of a lesser vertical height, as determined by the side panels 87 and interior panels 89 than the top log as indicated generally by the scale of the pads in FiGS. 8 and 9 and in perspective view in FIG. 7. The increased height of the top log is. often desirable to allow for differences in heights of various Windshields that may be packed in the container. The vertical spaced relation between paired openings 73 and 7 in top and bottom logs 71 and 72 must be suificient to accommodate the maximum vertical height of any windshield that may be desired to be packaged.

The bottom pad is provided with article receiving openings 74 and cooperative openings 92 in the before described manner. The end portions 93 of the article receiving openings located in the side panels 87 are restricted in comparison to the central portion thereof and have substantially parallel side margins 24 so that these portions 93 will conform closely to the thickness of the Windshield The bottom pad integral liner is foldably connected to the central panel 86 at score line 106. This score line, or fold connection 106 is in spaced parallel relation with the article receiving opening 74. The integral liner 105 is otherwise severed from the central panel 86 and a side panel 87. It will be noted that due to the angular disposition of the article receiving opening 74, the integral liner 195 must be precisely determined so that it may be successively folded and inserted in the respective article receiving openings '74 as best shown in FIG. 12. Thus it is provided with pairs of facing panels 108, each pair being connected respectively by a terminal fold 109. The facing panels have free end edges 110 in normal relation to the terminal folds 1119, the latter being in parallel relation with each other. The respective pairs of facing panels 168 are separated by spacer panels 111 with end edges 112 angularly disposed in respect to the terminal folds in a manner to bring the pairs of facing panels 108 into proper alignment with the respective article receiving openings 74 in the erected condition, whereby the facing panel free end edges 110 are in abutting relation with the restricted margins of the end portions 93 of the article receiving openings. By this means the integral liner is secure against longitudinal shifting in the container when subjected to the shocks incident to transportation and handling of the container with Windshields therein.

Locking means for securing the logs in erected condition prior to insertion in the container are provided in the interior panels '79 of the top pad and 89 of the bottom pad, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 respectively. The locking means is comprised of paired protruding members 115 and receiving members 116. The protruding member 115 is suitably aligned with its cooperating receiving members 116 to permit locking, engagement in the erected condition of the log. The locking members are offset from the center liner of the interior panels in the direction of the reinforcing panels 80 in the top pad and 90 in the bottom pad respectively to permit entry of the securing flaps 27 into the erected logs between the interior panels. The protruding member is folded about score 117 and inserted in the receiving member 116 by the temporary displacement thereof about score lines 118, bringing the protruding member abutting edge 119 into engagement with the receiving member offset margin 12%.

The means for adjusting the vertical spaced relation between the termini of cooperating slots in paired top and bottom logs is illustrated in FIG. 10 wherein is shown a top log 71 in perspective view and various assemblies of spacer pads 122 which are adapted to insertion in the article receiving openings 73 of the top log and thereby, in effect, alter the depth of the slots and providing the adjustment of the before mentioned effective vertical spacing between paired top and bottom logs.

The pad 122 for forming the spacers is shown in FIG. 11 having a central abutting panel 123 determined by score lines 124 spaced apart to correspond to the breadth I of the article receiving openings. The abutting panel 123 is flanked by spacer panels 125 which are in turn divided by transverse scores 126127 into vertical portions to permit successive folding as illustrated in FIG. 10. The spacing panel transverse scores 126-127 are preferably perforated to facilitate variability in folding direction of each score to provide flexibility of arrangement as shown. In every case the spacer pads are folded to retain the thickness determined by the abutting panel 123 so that they may be readily inserted and frictionally retained in the article receiving openings 73 of the top log 71.

A bottom log in a partially assembled condition is I illustrated in FIG. 12. The integral liner 105 has been folded preparatory to insertion in the article receiving opening 74. It is to be noted that a separate article receiving opening liner 122 may be used. The separate liner may be necessary when multiple article receiving openings are required and the proportions are such that suflicient fibreboard material is not available in the integral liner to provide lining for all of 'the openings. A plan view of a separate liner 130 is shown in FIG. 13 wherein score lines 131, represented as dotted lines, correspond to the terminal folds 109 of the integral liner and divide the separate liner 130 into counterpart facing panels 132. At least one of said facing panels 132 is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive surface 133 on its inner facing which will be in flatwise contacting relation with the windshield. A convenient method of applying the pressure sensitive adhesive surface 133 is by the use of a flexible tape adhesively secured to the facing panel 132 and having an exposed pressure sensitive adhesive coated backing. A like adhesive surface is supplied to at least one facing panel 108 of the integral liner disposed in each article receiving opening 74 as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 12.

An assembled bottom log 72 is shown in FIG. 14. Here the integral liner and separate liner 122 are initially positioned in the article receiving opening 74 in a manner so that the windshield may be inserted past the pressure sensitive adhesive surface to a position in edgewise abutment with the terminal folds 109 preparatory to final complete insertion in the article receiving openings 74. Upon the complete insertion of the glass, the facing panels of the liner are wedged in frictional and adhesive engagement with the boundaries of the windshield to prevent longitudinal movement of the windshield in the container. Thus, in cooperation with the top log 71 which prevents lateral movement from the vertical and further with the use of the spacer pads 122 which provide a desired space or relation between the cooperating article receiving openings in the top and bottom logs to further urge the windshield into secure engagement with the facing panels in the bottom log, the windshield is fixedly secured in spaced relation from the container sides, ends, top and bottom. It is to be further noted in respect to FIG. 14 that the log may be alternatively secured in erected condition by the use of staples 134 driven through the central panel and subjacent panel portions of the reinforcing panels adjacent the end margins of the log.

As heretofore described the top and bottom logs 71 and 72 respectively are positioned in the container by inserting the securing flaps 27 of the container end flaps 26 in the opening provided between the interior panels of the counterpart tubular sections of the logs. To ensure permanent engagement of the securing flap 27 in the opening provided in the logs, preformed staples may be driven through the exposed end marginal portions of the container end flaps and adjacent exposed portions of the logs or they may alternatively be adhesively secured or by other known means. Since the bottom logs are positioned in part on the container end flaps 26 and outer side flaps 28, it is desirable that the counterpart tubular sections of the log be so proportioned that the log attains a true level or horizontal position in respect to the container. Therefore, the counterpart tubular section overlying only the container outer side flaps 28 is of slightly greater height than the tubular section overlying the container end flaps 26.

Upon completion of the disposition of the windshield in the container in fixed relation to the logs, and the logs being in fixed relation to the container end flaps, the final container closure may be obtained by infolding the outer side flaps 28 and securing the same to each other in normal relation to the vertical Walls of the container so that at least one windshield is enclosed therein.

It is to be understood that the embodiments herein described are illustrative and not restrictive, and it is also to be understood that the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in other modified forms, and that all such modifications which are similar to or equivalent hereto come equally within the scope of the claims next appearing.

arisen '5 l-claim: 1. In-a rectangular slotted carton for fragile articles of the nature of automobile Windshields, a container having outer side flaps forming top and bottom closures and inner end flaps; means carried by the end flaps for fixedly positioning interior article retaining members in the container, the article retaining-members comprised of paired top and bottom logs having cooperating slots opening towards the interior of the container and disposed substantiallylongitudinally in the container, said logs disposed transversely of the container and having an opening therein opposite said slots and adapted to receive the positioning means carried by the end flaps.

2. In a rectangular slotted'carton for fragile articles of the nature of automobile Windshields, the container having outer side flaps forming top and bottom closures and inner end flaps; means carried by the end flaps for fixedly positioning interior article retaining members in the container, the article retaining members comprised of paired top and bottom logs, the logs being of a folded fibreboard construction comprising two similar tubular portions integrally connected on one side thereof by a central panel, the central panel and adjacent tubular portions having cooperating slots opening towards the interior of the container and engaging opposed marginal edges of the article, said logs disposed transversely of the container and each having an opening therein opposite the central panel and adapted to receive the positioning means carried by the end flaps.

3. In a rectangular slotted carton for fragile articles of the nature of automobile Windshields, the container having outer side flaps forming top and bottom closures and inner end flaps; means carried by the end flaps for fixedly positioning interior article retaining members in the container, the article retaining members comprised of paired top and bottom logs, the logs being of a folded fibreboard construction comprising twosirnilar tubular positions integrally connected on one side thereof by a central panel, the central panel and adjacent tubular portions having cooperating slots opening towards the interior of the container and engaging opposed marginal edges of the article, said logs disposed transversely from side to side of the container and with the tubular portions thereof determining therebetween an opening opposite the central panel and adapted to receive the positioning means carried by the end flaps, said means comprising folded end portions directed interiorly of the container in substantially normal relation to the respective flaps.

'4. A rectangular slotted carton of flexible material having outer side flaps forming top and bottom closures and inner end flaps, the carton being provided with interior packing for protecting and suspending at least one fragile article free from contact with any other part of said container, said packing comprising logs of folded fibreboard construction rectangular in cross section and secured transversely to the inner end flaps at the top and bottom of said container, each log having inwardly opening transverse slots therein, at least the bottom logs having integral folded flaps disposed within said slots, said integral flaps enclosing portions of the edge margin of the article.

5. A rectangular slotted carton of flexible material having outer side fiaps forming top and bottom closures and inner end flaps, the carton provided with interior packing for protecting and suspending at least one fragile article free from contact with any other part of said container, said packing comprising logs of folded fibreboard construction, rectangular in cross section, secured transverse- 13/ to the inner end flaps at the top and bottom of said container, e'ach log having atleast one inwardly opening transverse slot therein, at least the bottom logs having integral folded flaps disposed within said slots, said integral fiapsenclosing opposed portions of the edge margin of the article in the slot in each of said logs.

6. In a rectangular paperboard container for shipping automobile Windshields, interior packing comprising folded fibreboard logs, rectangular in cross section and coextensive in length with the width of the container, the logs being secured in transverse position at the top and bottom thereof adjacent each end, each log having at least one relatively broad transverse slot therein opening inwardly, at least the bottom logs having integral flaps forming paired facing panels disposed within the slots for firmly engaging a portion of the margin of a windshield therein free from contact With any other part of the container.

7. A rectangular paperboard container for automobile Windshields and the like, the container with opposed side and end walls, integral top and bottom closure panels on the side Walls and integral top and bottom locking panels with end flanges on the end Walls, interior packing comprising folded fibreboard logs rectangular in cross section and coextensive in length with the width of the container, the logs being positioned transversely at the top and bottom thereof adjacent each end, the logs being partially overlapped by said end wall locking flaps and permanently secured thereto, each log having at least one relatively Wide slot therein adapted to receive a windshield rnargin, opening inwardly and enclosing a liner insert integral with the log, whereby the windshield is immobilized free from contact with any other part of the container.

8. The container set forth and claimed in claim 7 wherein said logs are formed from a one piece rectangular blank, progressively scored transversely from each end inwardly to a central relatively wide panel to define a brace panel and four panels folded into counterpart tubes, rectangular in cross section with the brace panels extending diagonally between opposite vertices, the tubes being automatically positioned in side by side relation to a face of the central panel, in the assembled container, the end wall locking flaps extend over adjacent tubes with the flange on its outer end folded inwardly between the juxtaposed walls of the tubes, the assembly being permanently secured together by Wide staples.

9. The container set forth and claimsed in claim 8 wherein the integral liner insert enclosed in the article receiving slot is formed from a partially severed portion of said central panel and adjacent portions of the side panels of the logs, the integral liner being scored transversely parallel to the boundaries of the slot in the log to define a relatively narrow terminal fold and relatively Wide facing panels folded into parallel relation, forming the insert, the integral liner being foldably connected to the log central panel, the fold connection spaced from the slot a distance which permits insertion of the liner insert therein.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS a v us.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,043,480 Jul 10, 1962 John N. Warwick It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 'k r line 38, for "positions" r-csd portions Signed and sealed this 6th day of November 1962.

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

